House of Tammam Debuts U.K.’s Only Ethical Ready-to-Wear Bridal Gowns

House of Tammam has launched the first, and so far only, ethical ready-to-wear bridal collection in the United Kingdom. Founded by Lucy Tammam, who also serves as the label’s creative director, House of Tammam is based in London’s Bloomsbury district, where novelists such as Virginia Woolf and Mary Shelley lived just around the corner. Whereas Woolf and Shelley were mavericks in literature, the same could be said for Tammam with respect to fashion design. A Central Saint Martins graduate, Tammam was classically trained in tailoring. Because of her passion for animal and human rights, she became a pioneer in ethical couture, voyaging to India as early as 2004 to locate suppliers who would meet her criteria for fair-trade and sustainable materials.

BUILDING A HOUSE

“At the time, very few people were sourcing ethically and it was really difficult to find suppliers in London. So I put my rucksack on and headed to India,” Tammam tells Ecouterre. The result of this quest was her debut label, Tam & Rob, in 2005. “It was an everyday-wear label, before there were any fashion-forward, trend-led ethical labels on the market,” she says. “I still use some of the suppliers I built relationships with in those days now.”

When Tammam had trouble sourcing ethical fabrics, she put on her rucksack and headed to India.

A year later, in 2006, Tammam and some friends established the Conscious Designers Collective, a group of independent young designers who were frustrated with the lack of an affordable platform for their work. These ventures fueled the inception of House of Tammam, which has been making ethically produced, sustainable wedding gowns for the past five years. Tammam continues to develop fabrics in India and Nepal using natural fibers and dyes.

ALL DRESSED IN WHITE

Tammam has expanded her range to include prêt-à-porter wedding gowns made from organic and fair-trade cotton—a first in Britain. “The range offers a stylish option for women who do not want their dress to be a huge extravagance, yet still want to look stunningly beautiful on their wedding day,” says Tammam. “Perfect for last-minute brides, shotgun weddings, and people who like to try before they buy.”

Tammam’s ready-to-wear bridal gowns are made from organic and fair-trade cotton, vintage lace, and peace silk.